A CALL FOR PEACE AT SHANGRI LA DIALOGUE

https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/2bfc39f6-5a2f-47ef-976a-5d3ce9be7f25/02jun24_news_photo017e8af3c3-be11-4117-a244-b192516b18a5.jpg?sfvrsn=2cb3003a_1 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/25june24_news1
https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/25june24_news1
A CALL FOR PEACE AT SHANGRI LA DIALOGUE
02 Jun 2024 | DIPLOMACY

A CALL FOR PEACE AT SHANGRI LA DIALOGUE

//Story by BENITA TEO //Photos by PIONEER PHOTOGRAPHERS

(From right) Dr Ng at the seventh plenary session with Malaysia Minister for Defence Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin; IISS Director-General and Chief Executive Bastian Giegerich; and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A repeated call for peace, especially in Asia. This was Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen's central message at the 21st Shangri La Dialogue (SLD), held from 31 May to 2 Jun.

At a plenary session on 2 Jun, he said: "We must avoid a physical conflict in Asia, because we can all agree that neither Asia nor the world can withstand a third geopolitical shock."

Dr Ng was speaking at the annual premiere security summit, which brings together defence ministers and academics from around the globe to discuss key security challenges in the world today.

This year's edition saw the attendance of 49 Ministerial-level delegates and more than 40 senior defence officials from 45 countries.

We take a look at the highlights of the three-day event:

US-China relationship; South China Sea tensions & conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza were hot-button topics at SLD

Hot-button topics like United States (US)-China relations and conflicts in the Middle East dominated discussions.

A recurring theme was that conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East must not happen in Asia, said Dr Ng in an interview with the media after a roundtable discussion on 1 Jun.

He added that there had been a strengthened resolve to maintain peace in the region: "Because it would really destabilise (global security if there was) a third centre of confrontation, (and also because of) the lessons learnt on the cost of aggression and the consequences of aggression."

At a ministerial roundtable hosted on 1 Jun, ministers and their representatives discussed the complex security challenges in the world today, and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regional and international peace and stability.
In his speech at the seventh plenary session, Dr Ng stressed that "neither Asia nor the world can withstand a third geopolitical shock" and noted the need for more dialogue as well as "practical measures on the ground to prevent conflicts and de-escalate".

On US-China relations, Dr Ng noted that both countries were "integral to the functioning of a globally connected economy upon which all our well-being depends."

"Our approach is to convince the powers that be, whether big, middle or otherwise, that it's to their collective interest to have a system that protects the rights of large and small powers, and to be inclusive to avoid military alliances, trade blocks… (otherwise) then you revert to pre-World War I configurations," said Dr Ng.

On the tensions in the South China Sea, he said: "There is very little that non-claimant state can do to resolve if the claimant states don't have the political will to find political or peaceful resolutions.

"If there's a message, it's that if countries truly want peace, others can assist. But without their internal desire, you're not going to find it."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for international support and to strengthen diplomacy

Mr Zelenskyy joined Dr Ng at the SLD's seventh plenary session on 2 Jun, where he reiterated the importance of diplomacy.

"It's often said that brutal force should not dominate the world… Diplomacy should be those caring and strong hands that prevent international disputes from turning into fights, restraining the most aggressive parties," he said.

Mr Zelenskyy speaking at the seventh plenary session on 1 Jun, where he called for greater international efforts in diplomacy.

While highlighting instances of failed diplomacy in the world, Mr Zelenskyy acknowledged the key role diplomacy played in helping Ukraine withstand Russia's attacks in the form of "coalitions, from military to humanitarian, formal and informal".

"What brought them together is diplomacy. Diplomacy does work when it truly aims to protect lives. Together with partners, we are defending lives and rules-based world order," he added.

Dr Ng thanked Mr Zelenskyy for his presence at the Dialogue, noting that the president putting "great enough priority to be here in the SLD honours us".

China's new Minister of National Defense made his first visit to Singapore

As part of his introductory visit, Admiral (ADM) Dong Jun visited the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and co-chaired the third Singapore-China Defence Ministers' Dialogue with Dr Ng on 31 May.

During the dialogue, both ministers reaffirmed the positive momentum in the bilateral defence relationship, which is demonstrated through regular high-level exchanges, military-to-military interactions, and growing academic exchanges between the defence establishments.

Both sides also expressed support for the conduct of Exercise Cooperation between the two countries' armies, and Exercise Maritime Cooperation between the navies in China this year.

Mr Tan (second from right) and Mr Beck (second from left) signed the MOU for Defence Innovation Cooperation. They were witnessed by Dr Ng (far right) and Mr Austin.

S'pore & US signed MOU for Defence Innovation Cooperation

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called on Dr Ng as part of his official visit to Singapore and to attend the SLD.

During the call, Dr Ng and Mr Austin discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, and reaffirmed the importance of the US' continued engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr Ng expressed appreciation for their long-standing support for the Singapore Armed Forces' training in the US, as well as access to technology such as the acquisition and operationalisation of the F-35 fighter planes.  

Before the call, Dr Ng and Mr Austin witnessed the signing of the MOU by Chief Defence Scientist Tan Peng Yam and Director of the Defense Innovation Unit and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense Douglas A. Beck.

The MOU allows both defence establishments to identify opportunities to leverage commercial dual-use and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve operational challenges.

Mr Austin (fifth from left) with Dr Ng (third from right) and other Southeast Asia defence ministers and their representatives at an informal Southeast Asia-US Defence Ministers' meeting held at the sidelines of SLD on 2 Jun.
Dr Ng (right) with Mr Khaled during a meeting on 31 May, where they reaffirmed the ties between Singapore and Malaysia.

Dr Ng met with counterparts and world leaders; hosted FPDA breakfast

Dr Ng met with many of his counterparts who had arrived for the SLD. They included Malaysian Minister of Defence Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin; Indonesian President-Elect and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto; and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles.

(From left) NZ Defence Minister Judith Collins KC, Malaysian Defence Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Dr Ng, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and the UK's Director General (Security Policy) Paul Wyatt.

On the sidelines of the SLD, Dr Ng hosted the 12th Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Defence Ministers' Meeting on 31 May.

The meeting was attended by Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles; Malaysian Defence Minister Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin; New Zealand (NZ) Defence Minister Judith Collins KC; and the United Kingdom's (UK's) Director General (Security Policy) Paul Wyatt.

At a joint press conference after the meeting, the Ministers and Director General reaffirmed the importance of the FPDA in enhancing regional cooperation, and pledged their support for the FDPA's efforts to build trust and interoperability among the militaries of member-nations.

During the joint press conference, the official FPDA website was also launched. This website seeks to give additional insight to the public on how the FPDA functions as a defensive arrangement aimed at building trust and confidence in the region.

Suggested Reading
Cover story
THEY LIFT UP OUR BIG GUNS
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

Get up close with the men and machines of 24th Battalion, Singapore Artillery (24 SA), who provide a boost to our gunners to make sure they are always on time and on target.

COMMAND & STAFF COLLEGE GRADUANDS READY TO TAKE ON SENIOR LEADERSHIP ROLES
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

1
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE & BROTHERHOOD
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

NS has left indelible memories for these SAF pioneers from the 8th Engineers Officer Cadet batch, who celebrate their 50th anniversary since they were commissioned in 1974.

Super Puma flight tales
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

Retired helicopter pilot MAJ (Ret) Robert Tan was among the first few batches of locally-trained Super Puma pilots. Sports car or smooth bus – guess which vehicle he likens the aircraft to?

Total Defence is a duty of every Singapore business
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

Having experienced the demanding commitments of National Service, LTC (NS) Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin and Mr Gaurav Keerthi share why it’s so important for every Singapore business to support their NSmen.

Feature
He scaled a volcano with OCS mates & wrote a book about NS
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

LTC (NS) Leow Kah Shin and his NS buddies go on an annual “Exercise Longwalk” as a commitment to do something adventurous together.

Charting their path in the skies
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

From passion to flight: Students Cherie Goh and Alexey Cher fulfilled their childhood aspirations to attain their “wings”.

CSL_4657
Armour visit Dad at work!
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

In this year’s PIONEER Kids special, MAJ Justin Tan brings his three children – Danielle, Thaddeus and Asher – on a military adventure at the Home of the Armour.

00. Opening AddnA Feature
FIRSTS AT EXERCISE WALLABY 2024
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

The biggest iteration of the SAF's largest unilateral overseas exercise also marks the debut of several new assets and training models.

1_NZ9_5388
She’s one of RSN’s first female submariners
DIPLOMACY
02 Jun 2024

With the commissioning of the Invincible-class submarine, CPT Loh Jia Yi joins the ranks of “dolphins” as one of four qualified female submariners.